Parents ignoring school run safety rules

MORE THAN a third of parents who drive their children to school think it is acceptable to stop or park on school safety zigzag lines, with a quarter admitting to doing so, according to research from AXA Car Insurance.

Furthermore, 88% of school-run parents have witnessed fellow motorists stopping in the restricted zigzag area at least once a week.

Zigzag lines prohibit waiting, parking or stopping for any reason during school run times, and yet only 17% of adults in the survey knew that.

Following a Freedom of Information request, data revealed that the number of fixed penalty charge notices given in the past three years for parking on zigzag lines has risen significantly as traffic wardens shift focus. Total national figures rose from 14,564 in 2011 to 28,169 in 2013 – a 93% increase.

James Barclay of AXA Car Insurance commented: “The findings released today by our RoadSafe Schools campaign will strike a chord with many parents who are concerned about the safety of their children, especially during busy school run periods.

“All motorists have a duty to practise responsible driving; however, in many cases, parents can be their own worst enemies.”

In contravention of UK motoring law, 20% of school-run parents say that if they were ‘just dropping off’ or ‘just stopping for less than a minute’ (an additional 13%) then it is acceptable to stop on zigzag lines during the school run time.

James Barclay concluded, “Road safety is vitally important. Many parents may feel there is little danger in stopping or parking on zigzag lines for a short time, however an increase in the number of parked cars near schools could affect the safety of child pedestrians.

We want to encourage parents to carefully consider where they park – remembering to park further away from school drop off areas may be a little thing, but it will mean a lot to the safety of children.”

By Press Association reporter